Lamp socket cluster



Nov. 21, 1933. E. CLEMENCE 1,936,423

LAMP SOCKET CLUSTER Filed Jan. 5, 1929 INVENTOR 5/?7767766 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNl TED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP SOCKET CLUSTER of Connecticut Application January 5, 1929.- Serial No. 330,535

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to lamp socket clusters and is more particularly directed toward the provision of lamp socket clusters, plural lamp sockets, and the like, having a body made out of molded insulating material and having suitable inserted lamp contact shells and center contacts together with means for securing the same in place in the body.

The present invention contemplates a type of lamp socket cluster wherein the insulating casing is capable of being manufactured as a single piece out of moldaole insulating material of comparatively high strength so that thin sections may be employed.

According to the preferred form of construction, the insulating body member is made out of a single piece of molded insulating material such as phenolic condensation product or other high strength moldable insulating material. This insulating member is so designed as to eliminate metal inserts. It is provided with openings, passageways, locking lugs and the like to permit securing the metal parts in place in a cheap and expeditious manner.

The present invention also contemplates that the metal parts employed in the lamp socket cluster shall, so far as possible, consist of sheet metal stampings thereby reducing the threaded and tapped parts employed to a single screw and nut, which is employed for securing the plug end of the device in place and establishing the circuit from the center contact of the plug end of the cluster to the center contacts of the sockets.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawing shows for purposes of illustrating the present invention, three of the many possible embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In the drawing: 7

Figure 1 is a sectional view with parts in elevation showing a double or twin light cluster of V shape adapted for cooperation with a lamp socket and two Edison screw shell outlets;

Figure 2 is a perspective View showing the parts employed in the plug end of the cluster;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the contacts and insulating mechanism employed in the shell outlets of the twin light cluster shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a triple light cluster having three Edison screw shell outlets;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the corresponding parts employed in the triple light cluster of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an elevational view with parts in section showing an ofiset double light cluster; and

Fig. 8 is an end elevation looking into one of the diverging cylindrical portions of the cluster prior to assembly of the parts normally located therein.

The V type double or twin light cluster shown in Figure 1 is made up from an insulating body 10 and from the parts shown in Figures 2 and 3. This insulating body as above indicated may be made out of a single piece of molded insulated material. It has a short tubular stem or neck 11 reduced at its upper end to receive a male screw shell. The insulating body 10 also has two diverging lower cylindrical portions 12, 12 each having a chamber or socket opening 13, these chambers communicating with one another and each being adapted to house a screw threaded lamp socket shell. The insulating body 10 also has an interiorly disposed partition 14 which separates the tubular upper stem from the socket openings 13. This partition is provided with holes permitting the passage of conductors from the upper chamber to the socket openings.

As shown in Figure 3, the lamp socket shells are indicated at l5, 15, an M -shaped bar member has center contacts, indicated at 16, 16', and the insulating disks which support the center contact member are shown at 1'7, 17. The screw shell contacts 15, 15 are identical and each is in theiorm of a sheet metal stamping. This stamphas a screw threaded tubular portion 15a adapted to cooperate with the screw threads on a lamp base and flanges 15b adapted to engage the lower face of the partition 14. The flanges 151) are separated by a tongue 150 which is struck out of the material of the flange and bent upwardly as indicated. The stamping is also provided with notches 15d extending through a porti on of the flange and the adjacent part of the tubular portion of the stamping, and the side the shell opposite the tongue 150 is cut away an oblique plane as indicated at 156.

The insulating disks 1'? and 17 are also identical and are of the size to fit within the socket shells 15, 15 and rest against the flanges 15b therein. These disks are of substan'tialthickness rigidity and have cut outs or notches 17a spaced the same as the notches 15d in the screw shells. The disks also have central apertures 17b and are cut ofi along the line 170 and notched as indicated at 17d.

The center contact member is also in the form of a sheet metal stamping. It has an apertured central portion 16a to which is secured a nut 16b. It has divergent arms 16c apertured as indicated at 16d. The extreme ends of the stamping normally extend out at about the angle indicated in Figure 3 and are capable of being bent in to the dot and dash line position after they have been assembled.

In assembling the lamp socket cluster shown in Figure 1, the two socket shells 15, are placed in position in the socket openings 13, the tongues 150 being passed through openings 20 in the partition 14, the notches 15d passing by lugs 22 integral with the molded insulating body so that the screw shells are prevented from turning relative to the body. See Fig. 4 and Fig. 8. lIhe tongues, 150 are then bent out over the upper end of the tubular stem or neck of the insulating body and folded down the outside of the body as indicated at 21.

The end and side of the stem may be provided with slight recesses to accommodate folding over of these tongues if desired.

' The insulating disks 17, 17" are then inserted in place, the cut outs 17c registering with the lugs 22. See Figs. 4 and 8. The center contact memher is then passed into position so as to bring the cluster are indicated in Figures 1 and 2.

holes 16d in the line with holes 23 in the partitions 14, the member entering the notches 17d in the insulating disks. Hollow rivets 2a are then passed through the holes 16d in the center contact members, the holes 17b in the disks, and the holes 23 in the partitions 14. These hollow rivets are then upset thereby permanently securing the shell contacts, insulating disks and center contacts in place. The center contacts 16 and 16' may then be bent from the full line position of end to receive a male screw shell 25, which telescopes over it a short distance. The upper face of the insulating body may be cut away slightly to'accommodate the bent over end 21 of the shell contact tongue 15c and it is also provided with a locking device for a male screw shell support,

, here shown in the form of keys 26 which extend upwardly. A screw shell supporting member 2'7 (see Fig. 2) in the form of a sheet metal stamping has a lower flange 28 adapted to fit inside the screw shell and rest on the upper end of the insulating body. This stamping has cut cuts 29 to receive the locking keys or lugs 26 on the .body, The upper end 30 of this stamping is adaptedto engage with the inner surface of the upper end 31 of the screw shell stamping 25, and these stanipings are each provided with alignment holes, such as indicated at 32 and 33, .adapted to receive lugs 34 and 35 extending downwardly from an insulating cap member 36. The cap member may be made of phenolic condensation product and has a central hole 37 through which passes a long screw 38. The lower end of this screw passes through a hole 40 in the partition 14 and is threaded as indicated at 39, with the nut 16!) carried in the center contact member.

The arrangement which is described respecting the upper or plug end of the device is shown and claimed in my application filed concurrently herewith and entitled Current tap.

The triple light cluster shown in Figures 5 and 6 is also made out of a single molded insulated body together with an arrangement of shell and center contacts and insulating members shown in detail in Figure 6. The upper end of the plug cluster may utilize the structure shown in Figure 2.

The insulating body 50 has a tubular stem 51 which may be the same shape and configuration of the stem 11 and also coo erate with the plug parts in the manner above described. The body also has an axially disposed cylindrical portion 52 and diverging cylindrical portions 52', all of which are recessed to form socket receiving chambers 53. The center of the body may be externally threadedas indicated at 521) to permit securing a shade holder or other device. The insulating body also has the partition-54 similar to the partition 14 and dividing the interior of the body into an upper chamber and three communicating socket chambers or openings.

. The outer socket shells 55 and 55 are substantially the same as the shells 15, 15' except that they are cut on at a different angle on account of the difference in the angle between the outer socket openings 52 and the central socket opening 52. They have the threads 55a, flanges 55b, tongues 55c, notches 55d and cut cuts 553, similar to the corresponding parts in the socket shells 15.

The center socket shell 55" has a bottom cross strip 55) centrally apertured as indicated and provided with wings 559. The shell is cut away as indicated at 55h. The angle of these cut outs and the angles of the cut outs 55c being such that the socket shells do not interfere with one another when assembled in the casing.

The disks 57, 57 are similar to the disks 17, 17' and have notches 57a, holes 57b and cut away side portions 570 for the same purpose. In the present case, the holes 57?) are off center and no notch is employed corresponding with the notch 17d. The center insulating disk 57 may be a narrow strip having a center hole 576 as indicated.

- Thec'ent er contact members are indicated at 56 and 56'. These two members are similar but not identical. They each have base portions 56a upwardly and outwardly extending apertured portions56b and foldable ends 560. The fiat porticn 56a of the contact strip 56' carries a threaded 'nu't 56d and has a second foldable extension 56c. In assembling the triple light cluster shown in Figure 5 out of the parts shown in Figures 5 and 6, one first inserts the center socket shell 55" to bring the bridge 55 thereof against the partition 54 and to cause the prongs 559 to extend up alongside the divergent parts of partition 54. The shells 55 and 55 are then placed in the chambers, the tongues 55c passing through openings 60 in the partition 54 and the notches 55d engaging lugs corresponding with the lugs 22. The insulating disks 57, 57 and 5'7 are then placed in position whereupon the center contact strips 56 and 56' are placed in position in the order mentioned. The rivets 61 are inserted in place, and the parts secured together as above indicated. The spring contact tips 560 and 56c may then be bent over and the assembly completed by adding the upper plug end and central screw as has been described above in respect to Figures 1 and 2.

The modified form of construction shown in Figure '7 illustrates an offset double light cluster which in general resembles the triple light cluster shown in Figures 5 and 6 except that one of the side outlets is omitted. The insulating body is substantially the same as the insulating body 50 except that one of the cylindrical portions 52' is omitted and the side walls of the chamber 66 extend upwardly and merge with the stem 6'7. Instead of having an obliquely disposed partition on both sides of the insulating body, the partition on one side is horizontal as indicated at 68. It is provided with an opening 69 adapted to receive a tongue 70 from a lamp socket shell 71. This socket shell 71 may be the same as the socket shell part 55 shown in Figure 6, but, as there is insufficient material for making a tongue long enough to reach up to the upper end of the neck or stem 6'7, an extension piece or strip '72 is riveted to this stem. This extension is folded over the end of the stem or neck in the manner heretofore described in detail. The form of center contact member employed in this form of offset double light cluster may be that shown in 56' in Figure 6.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and construction, and I wish it to be understood that the particular forms shown are but a few of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

I claim:

1. A lamp socket cluster comprising an insulating body in the form of a single piece of molded insulating material having an upper tubular stem, a plurality of downwardly divergent intersecting socket openings, and a partition dividing the body into an upper chamber and a plurality of lower communicating socket openings, and a plurality of lamp socket shell contacts having insulated center contacts associated therewith, the contacts being insertible into the body through the socket openings, the shell contacts having strips passing through openings in the partition and folded over the edge of the stem.

2. A lamp socket cluster comprising an insulating body in the form of a single piece of molded insulating material having an upper tubular stem, a plurality of downwardly divergent intersecting socket openings, one of said socket openings being along the same axis as the stem, and a partition dividing the body into an upper chamber and a plurality of lower communicating socket openings, and a plurality of lamp socket shell contacts having insulated center contacts associated therewith, the contacts being insertible into the body through the socket openings, the center contact in the axially disposed socket opening being secured in place by a bolt threaded into the same, the other center contact being secured in place by a hollow rivet passing through the partition.

3. In a lamp socket cluster, an insulating body comprising a piece of insulating material having a tubular upper stem, a plurality of socket openings, one of which is obliquely disposed, and an obliquely disposed partition between said socket opening and the upper chamber, a lamp socket shell in said opening having a flange engaging said partition and a connecting strip extending through a passageway in the partition, an insulating disk fitting against the flange, a center contact, and a rivet passing through the center contact insulating disk and partition for securing the parts in place.

4. In a lamp socket cluster, an insulating body comprising a piece of insulating material having a tubular upper stem, a plurality of socket openings, one of which is obliquely disposed, and an obliquely disposed partition between said socket opening and the upper chamber, a lamp socket shell in said opening having a flange engaging said partition and a connecting strip extending through a passageway in the partition, an insulating disk fitting against the flange, a center contact, a rivet passing through the center contact insulating disk and partition for securing the parts in place, the partition also having an axially extending hole, and a bolt extending through the hole and threaded into an extension of the center contact.

5. In a lamp socket cluster, an insulating body comprising a piece of insulating material having a tubular upper stem, a plurality of socket openings, two of which are obliquely disposed, and an obliquely disposed partition between said socket openings and the upper chamber, a lamp socket shell in each opening, each shell having a flange en aging said partition and a connecting strip extending through a passageway in the partition, insulating disks fitting against the flanges, center contacts, rivets passing through the center contacts, insulating disks and partition for securing the parts in place, the partition also having an axially extending hole and a bolt extending through the hole and conductively connected with extensions of the center contacts.

6. In a lamp socket cluster, an insulating body comprising a piece of insulating material having a tubular upper stem, a plurality of socket openings, two of which are obliquely disposed, and an obliquely disposed partition between said socket openings and the upper chamber, a lamp socket shell in each opening, each shell having a flange engaging said partition and a connecting strip extending through a passageway in the partition, insulating disks fitting against the flanges, center contacts, rivets passing through the center contacts, insulating disks and partition for securing the parts in place, the body also having a centrally located socket opening, a socket shell in said last mentioned socket opening in contact with the other socket shells, a center contact for said centrally located socket shell, and a bolt passing through a center hole in the partition and conductively connected with all the center contacts and securing the center socket shell in its opening.

7. A lamp socket cluster having two divergent socket shells housed within an insulating body, the body having communicating shell receiving openings and a partition against which bottom flanges on the shells rest, adjacent corners of the shells beingcut away to provide a passageway between the shells, insulating disks in the shells, a conducting strip having center contacts for each socket, the strip extending through the passageway and being secured in place by members extending through each of the insulating disks and the partition.

ELLIOTT CLEMENCE. 

